It’s an awesome day when one of your theological heroes endorses your new book. For those unfamiliar, Christopher West is the leading global voice in the “theology of the body” tradition I’m writing out of in Beautiful Union. This tradition is inspired by Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body, widely considered the most significant theological work on the body and sexuality in the 20th century. This endorsement will be in the next printing of Beautiful Union.
Josh Butler’s love for the iconography of the human body is contagious. Some have accused him of going “too far” in drawing connections between the sexual and the divine realms. I would say that, in one respect (with regard to its moral application), he hasn’t gone far enough. Even so, with joy, enthusiasm, and the wisdom drawn from years of pastoral experience, Beautiful Union will help readers discover what Saint Paul was talking about when he described the union of man and woman as a “mega-mystery” (see Eph. 5-31-32). In the process readers will discover the cure for what ails our sexually confused world. Indeed, a prayerful reading of this book will open the “Beautiful Gate” of the temple to you. Be not afraid to enter in!
Dr. Christopher West, President, Theology of the Body Institute, Author, Our Bodies Tell God’s Story: Discovering the Divine Plan for Love, Sex, and Gender
About Christopher West:
Christopher West’s passion for how finite beauty points to Infinite Beauty has led to a prolific career as a theologian, author, and global lecturer devoted to helping others encounter the divine mystery as it’s revealed in and through our physical world, especially the human body. Dr. West serves as president of the Theology of the Body Institute near Philadelphia and as Professor of Theological Anthropology in its jointly sponsored master’s program with Pontifex University. His work has been featured in The New York Times, on ABC News, Fox News, MSNBC, and in countless Catholic and evangelical media outlets. His book Our Bodies Tell God’s Story explains John Paul II’s Theology of the Body specifically for an evangelical audience.
Check out more of Christopher West’s work at the Theology of the Body Institute and their YouTube channel.